N Korea fires sixth missile in three days

North Korea continued firing short-range weapons over its own eastern waters Monday after a weekend of what it called “rocket launching tests” intended to bolster deterrence against enemy attack. South Korean officials were investigating exactly what it was that Pyongyang was testing.

North Korea regularly conducts short-range missile tests. Analysts say the recent launches appear to be weapons tests or an attempt to get US and South Korean attention amid tentative signs of diplomacy after soaring tensions that followed UN sanctions aimed at a North Korean nuclear test in February.

The two projectiles fired by North Korea on Monday had similar trajectories as four previous launches over the past two days, according to officials at Seoul’s Defense Ministry and Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Officials were analyzing whether the projectiles were missiles or rockets fired from a large-caliber gun North Korea may be developing, the officials said on condition of anonymity, citing department rules.